I live on a small family farm. For some reason God finds ways to teach me about Himself through our chickens — maybe because someone once told me chickens were a lot like humans and I thought they were dumb. Maybe because I never understood the term pecking order until I saw it was a real life and death issue.

Our chickens are more like pets. We purchased chicks in the past but never had any hatch from our eggs. We would watch our hens brood in their nesting boxes for almost a month waiting for their eggs to hatch, but nothing would happen and we’d have to throw away the rotten eggs. Over time, we gave up on our chickens having babies.

One summer evening we were greeted with the soft peeps of five chicks with fluffy black heads and bottoms dipped in yellow. This surprise caused me, my husband, and my daughter to act like the TV husband of the 1950s trying to get to the hospital in time but who forgets his wife at home. The thrill of new life created a moment of elated chaos in our backyard.

We entered the coop expecting to hold the newly hatched chicks but were greeted by excellent mother hens. I watched as one of our hens cornered her two chicks and hid them underneath her wings as she talked to them. You know when God uses something in your life to make a verse you’ve heard a million times come to life? This is what came to mind as I watched that mama hen:

God will cover you with His feathers. He will shelter you with His wings.Psalm 91:4 (NLT)

This verse always sounded so endearing and sweet to me, full of springtime miracles and gentleness in the nest. But not in our chicken coop! Spending time with these hens and watching how they care for their chicks brought revelation about how God fiercely protects us.

God desires to have us live in the shelter of His wings and find rest in Him. He loves us in the fierce yet sacrificially loving way of a mama hen. We, as God’s chicks, have to allow Him to protect us. Sometimes our mama hens are beside themselves trying to help and protect their babies, but the chicks don’t always listen to the only voice that can protect them. But she doesn’t relent. Likewise, God doesn’t rest or take a break in taking care of us. He will leave the four chicks to gather up the one who strays from the brood.

One of my favorite observations of these mama hens has been how their chicks can become invisible. The mama hens cover their chicks with their wings to hide them from every kind of predator. We are protected in the same way. We become invisible to the enemy because under God’s wings the enemy can only see God. The Lord says:

I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call
on me, I will answer. I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue them and honor them.
I will satisfy them with a long life and give them my salvation. Psalm 91:14-16 (NLT)

Our chicks are adorable but pretty much clueless. They are in constant contact and communication with their mama hen because they know she can be trusted and that she loves them fiercely. So, they respond by listening and obeying in love, letting her take care of them, sitting quietly under her wings and watching her every move to learn how to navigate this world.

I want to be more like one of God’s chicks. Let’s live in His shelter and protection, finding the love and rest we so desperately need.

Stephanie Bryant

Stephanie Bryant is the co-founder of @incourage and a podcaster at the #JesusLedAdventurePodcast. She formerly owned a Social Marketing & Business Coaching company, and is now passionate about guiding you to your promised land. She enjoys spending her days with her husband and their miracle daughter, Gabrielle, on #BryantFamilyFarm. Follow...
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We had hens for a while, and we laughed at them, enjoyed them when they were cute and fluffy, and marveled at their hysteria.
When my kids were all tiny, I actually saw myself (in a very unflattering light!) in one of the hens who would squawk, flap her wings, and have a fit whenever her chicks got too far away. Meanwhile, they completely ignored her. She helped me to remember that God takes care of chicks AND mama hens.

Stephanie,
It always amazes me how God can teach us so many lessons through His creation. Through your storytelling, I was right there watching those nervous mother hens. I remember, many times, feeling like a mother hen. Especially on 9/11, I distinctly remember wanting my chicks to be close at hand when eminent danger lurked. I don’t think that mother instinct ever goes away. Thank you for the reminder that God not only covers us with gentleness and refuge, but He can be fierce, furious, and jealous in His great love for us. He will stop at nothing to protect His own….even if we wander off like clueless chicks. Great life and faith lessons found on the farm today 🙂
Blessings,
Bev xx

As the granddaughter of a farmer, I am always amazed how The Lord uses His creation to show us His fierce love for us. I remember roosters beckoning us out of bed at the crack of dawn, and isn’t that what God does everyday for us: telling us to rise and be excited for what He has in store for us each day? Mother hens are perhaps the most beautiful example of God’s intense love and protection for His “chicks.”

Thank you for this beautiful illustration, Stephanie! Here’s to leaning in to our Heavenly Father, knowing He will protect us and love us with an everlasting love!

Awesome post Stephanie! Today as I sit for the 4 th day covered in poison ivy and realizing God wanted me to rest this out, since I’m a good listener but I cannot sit long enough to listen to direction from Him on most days! I’m enjoying the time I have with God now as I sit with swollen , crusty body parts!! I’m glad you love your “girls” that’s what my daughters and daughter in law who raise their hens for food and companionship call them.. I’ve seen them talking to them and when their in distress over a hen (or 3) being destroyed by a unfortunate animal attack, cuddling them and it amazes me of the love they give each other!
God said it is good on all of His creation and isn’t it beautiful to us how He allows us to be one with Him and His creation everyday in our lives.. be it people, nature, or animals:) poison ivy even seems to have a place in the world, doesn’t it? I’m going to be looking for it a little bit better than before though!
Looking forward to a great garden of flowers and hens in my mansion with God! Lol blessings to all your peeps and gals:)

I grew up with baby chicks and their fierce mamas. This brought back beautiful memories and joy filled days with the wonder of new life. Some things you just can’t learn from Google. Be blessed today all you wonderful mamas with baby chicks. Thank you for a great start to a new day.

Love this, Stephanie! Often I can think of wings as synonymous with feathers, like the loose, lightweight, scraggly things I sometimes find haphazard across my lawn. But wings are not flimsy — especially God’s! They are strong. His love and protection fierce and full, a complete covering. Such a powerful imagery. This will stick with me. Thank you, friend.

You’re too kind to read and comment on my words. God is always teaching me through the every day experiences of life. I kept thinking, just like encouragement is about God imparting courage into our spirits, His feathered wings are fierce, protective and at the same time loving. His kingdom is always opposite of what we first assume. Under His feathered wings, just like the wings above the ark of the covenant, It’s the spot where He dwells with us.

Stephanie, Thank you for this illustration. I just read and prayed Ps 91 over my treasured very young grandchildren and have a little sign about being underneath His wings for our grandchildren. They have a special need for this from the Lord as the parents are very careless and irresponsible and cruel. So I have to cling to the promises of the Lord to do what only He can in ways I have no idea about. The Lord had this today to encourage me as some very big things are ahead.

Your comment keeps coming to my mind and I pray for your sweet grandchildren & adult children. What you shared makes the Spirit in me ache with grief. Children are such a gift from the Lord! God has excellent plans for them, despite their difficult situation. I will pray for a change of heart for their parents, for all to be rescued from the heart condition creating an unsafe home and God to receive all the glory from a fresh start, a healthy family full of love. Lord, protect these children while you change their environment & bring peace to all the hearts involved. I’m thankful God used my words to encourage you in this journey.

Stephanie,
Thank-you for your thoughtful, shared words. I thought this might be written by you, even before I saw that it was. With all that surrounds us, God keeps us safe, and I’m so very thankful that He does.
Have a blessed day all,
Penny

Love Love Love this post! I was so touched by it I was in tears. Such a beautiful picture of Gods never-ending love. Needed to hear this reminder, the timing was perfect. God is sooo good!! Thank you!! Thank you!! God Bless

Trying not to cry! Even though I didn’t get to read this until now, it was perfectly timed. Bless you, Stephanie, for letting God speak through you! “God doesn’t rest or take a break in taking care of us.“ Thank You, Jesus!!!

I have a nest of baby birds outside the front door, I’ve enjoyed watching mam build, lay and then there were five little beaks open demanding to be fed. They have. just learned how to fly and are still so tiny. During the storm and at night they come right back.

Thank you for the wonderful illustration. I find it amazing how God can teach us truths by using nature & animals. Just watching mother hens or other animals as they protect their babies is a powerful view of how God sees us. No one ever looses their mothering instincts. They always worry about their children no matter how old or far away they get. God is the same. He will leave a fold of 99 to search for the one missing lamb. He will carry us back on is loving shoulders. God desires to have us live in the shelter of His wings and find rest in Him. He wants to protect us from all the evil in this world. May we all find rest & peace under His wings.